WE WERE LUCKY
An autobiography by Hilde Gerrard neé Weissenberg, born 1907 LIFE WITHOUT THE CHILDRENOnce a month we were allowed to visit the children and I did not only count the days but also the hours. When we left them they spoke Italian; when we visited them they spoke partly Italian and partly Cockney English, which they learned from a very nice girl who looked after them and taught them English in their limited children's language. Mrs Bullett knitted them the nicest frocks and suits and they did not seem to suffer from the parting, as they looked very well.
We were always very happy when we went to see them, but afterwards it depressed me to think how long I should have to wait before I could be together with them again. We brought them presents and once we bought them two small prams. Gabie pushed her pram along happily, whilst my baby boy put his pram upside down and played with the wheels. We tried to avoid jealousy and so we gave them the same toys but in different colours so that they knew which one was theirs. The monthly visits were arranged alternately in Petersfield at the Bulletts, and at Rowledge in the big country house servants' quarters. The children were brought by Mr and Mrs Bullett and had to rest after lunch. We put them in our beds and once, when we came to look at them some time later, they had painted with my lipstick and emptied the powder bowl in my bed. Instead of being annoyed I left it and slept the full week in those sheets, content that I had a visual connection with them as well.
Gerhard cooked for the family and parties. I looked after the rooms and served the meals together with the butler.
The summer of 1939 passed with work, and rather worrying letters from my parents in Breslau. My father had been put in prison for remarking to a neighbour: "We know whom we have to thank for that" (meaning Hitler) who reported it immediately to the Gestapo and a few hours later he was fetched from home. My mother's letters were desperate, our parents needed a British guarantee for £200.00 each to be able to enter Britain. We did not have the money and whomever we approached - they refused. I also approached organisations but the reply was the same, as the demand was so great and I did not know any wealthy people. I still have today the large correspondence with the most depresesing replies.
On the Sunday morning, September 3rd 1939, we heard the radio announcement that war between England and Germany had been declared. At last a stop to Hitler. Our parents and most of our relatives were on the wrong side of the Channel - in Germany.
Our employer, a high ranking officer and his butler went immediately into the army. His wife was expecting her third child. I took over the butler's duties and also the job of taking and fetching the children by car to and from school, as I truthfully stated that I had passed my driving test. I had very little experience and began to practise with precious passengers - their children. Luckily all went well. The only incident was once when I was driving up a hill, fortunately with no children in the car at the time, I was driving on the right and I found myself confronted by an enormous tank coming from the opposite direction. The tank and I stopped and I moved apologetically to the left side of the road.
Nobody had any idea how far the war would effect the country. Gerald Bullett, who was broadcasting, wanted to move to London. I was frantic to have my children with me. There was lots of space in our room and we had two chrome cots wherever the children went. I "only" needed our employer's permission to let the children live with us. I asked if they might but I saw that she was not willing. I decided that I should have to go somewhere where I could be with them. I now got permission to bring them over on the understanding that we employed a girl to look after them until at least 2 o'clock, to which we gladly agreed. We found Biddy, a very nice girl, and the children settled well. The two older children of our employers wanted to play with the twins, especialey in the garden, but after a few minutes their nanny's voice would command them back out of the servants' quarters.
Via America I got letters from my parents. They were desperately trying to leave, but had no entry visas anywhere. They were too old to be allowed in as domestics and I could not produce a guarantee for them. I was not able to help and nearing a nervous breakdown. Gerhard offered to work alone and let me look after the children, if we could find a place to live. We advertised and got offers. We accepted the offer of one family to look after several dogs and could live in a little farm cottage. I like dogs and have been used to them from childhood. The two people who made the offer were fairly young and very nice. The offer was for the children and myself. We worked our notice and after that Gerhard accepted a job as cook in Weston-super-Mare and we left for Bramdean, a village in Hampshire. Gerhard was well paid by an American couple. He was an airman and they had a lot of good provisions at their disposal. He had a small room with green curtains overlooking a garden. A horse that grazed in the meadow took a fancy to the curtains and ate part of them.